U.S. patent application number 16/340629 was filed with the patent office on 2020-02-13 for media conveyors with suction holes.
The applicant listed for this patent is HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.. Invention is credited to Raimon CASTELLS DE MONET, Daniel GUTIERREZ GARCIA, Roger TERRADELLAS CALLAU.
Application Number | 20200047525 16/340629 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62019507 |
Filed Date | 2020-02-13 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200047525 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GUTIERREZ GARCIA; Daniel ;
et al. |
February 13, 2020 |
MEDIA CONVEYORS WITH SUCTION HOLES
Abstract
In an example, a media conveyor includes a media support
platform having a suction hole, and a valve to selectively close
the suction hole. A valve actuator to actuate the valve includes an
air tube having an air inlet and a seal to selectively seal the air
inlet.
Inventors: |
GUTIERREZ GARCIA; Daniel;
(Sant Cugat del Valles, ES) ; TERRADELLAS CALLAU;
Roger; (Sant Cugat del Valles, ES) ; CASTELLS DE
MONET; Raimon; (Sant Cugat del Valles, ES) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P. |
Spring |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
62019507 |
Appl. No.: |
16/340629 |
Filed: |
October 17, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
October 17, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2016/057290 |
371 Date: |
April 9, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J 11/0085 20130101;
B65H 2406/418 20130101; B65H 5/222 20130101; B41J 11/06
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B41J 11/00 20060101
B41J011/00; B65H 5/22 20060101 B65H005/22 |
Claims
1. A media conveyor comprising: a media support platform comprising
a suction hole; a valve to selectively close the suction hole; and
a valve actuator to actuate the valve and comprising an air tube,
the air tube comprising an air inlet, and a seal to selectively
seal the air inlet.
2. The media conveyor of claim 1 comprising a solenoid to
reposition the seal relative to the air inlet.
3. The media conveyor of claim 1 wherein the valve comprises a
diaphragm having a convolution comprising a pair of concentric
annular walls.
4. The media conveyor of claim 1 wherein the valve comprises a
bleed hole, and wherein a size of the bleed hole is less than a
size of at least one of the air tube and the air inlet.
5. The media conveyor of claim 4, wherein the air tube is connected
to a chamber on a first side of valve, wherein the chamber is
connected to a negative pressure source via the bleed hole.
6. The media conveyor of claim 1 wherein: the media support
platform comprises a plurality of suction holes and a plurality of
valves, each valve to selectively close an associated suction hole;
and the valve actuator is to selectively actuate the plurality of
valves as a group.
7. A media handling apparatus comprising: a media support platform
comprising a plurality of suction holes and, in association with a
first suction hole of the suction holes, a first valve to
selectively close the first suction hole, the first valve
comprising a diaphragm having a position which is responsive to a
pressure differential; a valve actuator comprising an air tube
having a selectively sealable air inlet, the valve actuator being
to selectively actuate the first valve; a negative pressure source
to cause suction of air through the first suction hole when the
first suction hole is open; and processing circuitry to determine,
based on an attribute of a media being handled by the media
handling apparatus, if the first suction hole should be open or
closed and to control the valve actuator according to the
determination.
8. The media handling apparatus of claim 7 comprising a media
conveying belt, wherein the media conveying belt is to carry media
across the media support platform.
9. The media handling apparatus of claim 7 comprising, in
association with a second suction hole of the suction holes, a
second valve to selectively close the second suction hole, the
second valve comprising a diaphragm having a position which is
responsive to a pressure differential, wherein the valve actuator
is to selectively actuate the first and second valves.
10. The media handling apparatus of claim 7 in which the plurality
of suction holes comprises a third suction hole which is always
open or which is closable by a valve directly actuated by presence
of media.
11. The media handling apparatus of claim 7 comprising a plurality
of negative pressure chambers, wherein each negative pressure
chamber is connected to a subset of the plurality of suction
holes.
12. The media handling apparatus of claim 11 comprising a print
apparatus and in which a first negative pressure chamber of the
negative pressure chambers is associated with a region of the media
support platform which is to support a print media during a first
print operation and a second negative pressure chamber of the
negative pressure chambers is associated with a region of the media
support platform which is to support a print media during a second,
different print operation.
13. The media handling apparatus of claim 7 wherein a first region
of the media support platform comprises a first composition of
suction holes and a second region of the media support platform
comprises a second, different, composition of suction holes.
14. A method comprising: receiving, on a media support platform of
a media handling apparatus, a media sheet; generating a negative
pressure; generating an actuation signal to selectively seal an
inlet of an air tube and thereby cause a pressure operated valve to
communicate the negative pressure to the media sheet as an applied
suction; and conveying the media sheet on the media support
platform under the applied suction.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein sealing the inlet of the air
tube causes a plurality of pressure operated valves to communicate
the negative pressure to the media sheet as a suction via a
plurality of respective suction holes.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] In some media handling apparatus, such a printers, media
stackers or the like, media conveyors, such as belt-type conveyors,
rollers or pallets on an endless track are used to convey media,
for example media on to which text or an image may be printed. For
example, such media conveyors may be used to convey media from a
media storage area to a position in which it can be printed (for
example, near a printhead of the printer or the like) and then to
convey the media to a curing and/or collection area.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0002] Non-limiting examples will now be described with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0003] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example media
conveyor;
[0004] FIGS. 2A and 2B show an example diaphragm of a valve;
[0005] FIGS. 3A and 3B show an example valve in situ in a print
media transport apparatus;
[0006] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of another example media
conveyor;
[0007] FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic diagrams of example media
handling apparatus; and
[0008] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example method of conveying a
media sheet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an example of a media
conveyor 100 comprising a media support platform 102. A suction
hole 104 is provided through the media support platform 102 (which
may be a moving platform, or may be covered with a belt or the
like), and a valve 106 is arranged to selectively close the suction
hole 104. Associated with the valve 106 is a valve actuator 108
comprising an air tube 110 having an air inlet 112 (in this
example, the end of the tube 110, although this could be positioned
elsewhere on the tube 110) and a seal 114, which is to selectively
seal the air inlet 112. In some examples, the valve 106 may be a
pressure operated valve, for example being actuated to selectively
close or open the suction hole 104 by a pressure differential in or
around the valve 106, wherein the pressure differential may be
controlled by sealing or un-sealing the inlet 112 of the air tube
110.
[0010] Media conveyors may for example be used in a print apparatus
or some other apparatus. In such apparatus, a media conveyor may be
used in order to move media, for example a sheet material, such as
paper, card stock, plastics, and the like, which may be rigid,
substantially rigid or flexible.
[0011] Suction may be used to secure the media to a conveyor, for
example by drawing air through suction hole(s) in the platform. In
previous examples of media conveyors, such suction hole(s) are
always open. However, this can result in wasted energy and/or the
specification of large vacuum sources, which can be expensive. For
example when a media sheet which is narrower than the support
platform 102 on which it is transported, in order to maintain
suction on the media while air is drawn through uncovered holes,
additional power is consumed. In some examples, or in some media
handling phases, the air is heated (for example to aid drying or
curing of a printed media), and drawing air though open holes
effectively wastes the energy consumed in heating the air, and/or
may make it difficult to reach a target temperature for the process
being carried out.
[0012] In some previous examples of media conveyors, holes may be
selectively closed using, for example, electrically actuated
valves. However, such valves can be expensive and may operate in a
relatively hostile environment, which may be hot (for example, up
to 90.degree. C.), and apparatus, such as print apparatus, can
contain condensation of water and solvents which can be damaging to
valve apparatus. Some working practices include manually taping
over holes when printing a particular media so as to selectively
close suction holes, but this is burdensome on a user. In still
further examples, holes may be generally sealed but opened by the
presence of a media. For example, a media sheet may cover a pilot
hole, which may be smaller than a suction hole, and this may create
a pressure differential which opens a valve (for example, moves a
moveable diaphragm) covering a suction hole. However, this relies
on the media sheet successfully sealing a suction hole. In some
examples, this cannot be assured. For example, as is described in
greater detail below, a fabric or otherwise porous belt may be
provided on the platform 102 and this could impede a seal from
forming.
[0013] In some examples, the media conveyor 100 may comprise a
negative pressure source, for example as described below.
[0014] An example of a diaphragm 200, which could provide a
component of a valve 106, is shown in different views in FIGS. 2A
and 2B. In this example, the diaphragm 200 comprises a resilient
(for example, rubber, plastic or the like) diaphragm having a
convolution comprising a pair of concentric annular walls 202a,
202b, which in this example are substantially parallel and are
joined at a base region thereof by a flexible portion 206. The
diaphragm 200 also comprises a sealing surface 204 and a seat 208,
which may interface with other apparatus portions as shown in FIGS.
3A and 3B below.
[0015] FIGS. 3A and 3B show examples in which a valve 301
comprising a diaphragm 200 is in situ under a media support
platform 300.
[0016] In this example, the media support platform 300 comprises a
plurality of perforations 302 in communication with a suction hole
104, although in other examples a suction hole 104 may be formed
through to the surface of the platform 300. The seal 114 is mounted
on a piston 304 which is connected to a drive mechanism, in this
example a solenoid 306, such that the position thereof relative to
the end of the air tube 110 (which is shown in a broken fashion to
indicate that the tube 110 may be longer than illustrated) may be
adjusted to block and unblock the inlet 112 at the end of the air
tube 110. The solenoid 306 may act against a resilient member, in
the example of the Figures, a spring 308. In this example, the
positions of the seal 114 are bi-stable: the spring 308 will urge
the seal 114 to seal the end of the air tube 110 or the solenoid
306 will draw the piston into a retracted, latched, position.
[0017] A solenoid is an example of a robust, low cost drive
mechanism which is readily controlled with a simple control system
such as an electric pulse. In other examples, other drive
mechanisms could be used, for example stepper motors, servos,
manual actuation, or the like.
[0018] By providing a drive mechanism which is bi-stable, energy is
consumed just at the point of state change and therefore power
consumption and risk of component burn-out is reduced.
[0019] The air tube 110 is connected to a chamber 310 on a first
side of diaphragm 200 within the valve 301 and the valve 301
further comprises a region 312 on the second side of the diaphragm
200 within the valve 301. The chamber 310 and the region 312 are in
fluid communication with a vacuum source. The chamber 310 is in
fluid communication with a vacuum source via a bleed hole 314,
which is smaller than the aperture of the air tube 110 (for
example, half or a quarter of the surface area). The region 312 on
the second side of the diaphragm 200 is arranged so as to have a
relatively unrestricted air flow with the vacuum source (when
compared to the restriction presented by the bleed hole 314).
[0020] In both FIGS. 3A and 3B, a vacuum is applied, as shown in
FIG. 3B. In some examples, vacuum pressures may range between a few
hundred to a few thousand Pascals, resulting in a suction force of
around 500 Pa to 1000 Pa.
[0021] In FIG. 3A, the solenoid 306 acts to retract the seal 114
and unseal the end of the air tube 110. The chamber 310 on the
first side of the diaphragm is at or slightly below atmospheric
pressure: air enters the chamber 310 via the air tube faster than
it is removed by the vacuum source via the bleed hole 314 due to
their relative sizes. However, the applied vacuum reduces the
pressure within the region 312 on the second side of the diaphragm
and the resulting pressure difference deforms the diaphragm 200
from its equilibrium shape shown in FIG. 2, and causing it to seal
the mouth of the suction hole 104. As the suction hole 104 is
closed there is no airflow though the perforations 302 and any
media on top of the perforations 302 would not be subject to a
suction force.
[0022] In FIG. 3B, the latch holding back the seal 114 has been
released allowing the spring 308 to act on the seal 114 to urge it
toward the end of the air tube 110. The vacuum acts to draw air
through the bleed hole 314 and, as this is no longer replaced via
the air tube 110, the pressure in the chamber 310 under the sealing
surface 204 reduces, causing the sealing surface 204 to be drawn
downwards until the diaphragm 200 assumes its rest position and,
the sealing surface is a distance H from the mouth of the suction
hole 104. As a result, the vacuum acts such that air is drawn
through the perforations 302 and the suction hole 104. A sheet of
media on the platform 300 will therefore be held by a suction
force.
[0023] As mentioned above, the cross sectional surface area of the
bleed hole 314 is less than that of the air tube 110. In some
examples, the diameter of the bleed hole 314 may be in the order of
a few millimeters, for example, 1 to 3 mm, whereas the diameter of
the air tube 110 may be around 16-20 mm. More generally, the ratio
between these sizes (or the size of the inlet 112, if different
from the size of the tube 110) will determine the response time of
the diaphragm 200. In some examples, the diameter of the bleed 314
hole is significantly less than the diameter of the air tube
110.
[0024] The drive mechanism of the seal 114 (in this example, the
solenoid 306) may be some distance from the diaphragm 200, for
example being located somewhere other under the platform 300. This
may reduce the burden for maintenance and replacement of such
components, which may be provided in a relatively more accessible
location. In some examples, the seal 114 and the associated
actuation mechanism may be arranged outside a relatively hostile
environment which may be created under the platform 300.
[0025] FIG. 4 shows a schematic example in which a plurality of
valves 106a, 106b, in this example a first 106a and a second 106a
valve, associated respectively with a first 104a and second 104b
suction hole, are in fluid communication such that the valve
actuator 108 can actuate both (or more generally, any number) of
the valves as a group using a single seal 114. Each of these valves
may comprise a valve 106 which is responsive to a pressure
differential, for example comprising a valve 301 as shown in FIG.
3A or 3B. If the valves were as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the
chambers 310 under the diaphragms 200 of a plurality of valves 301
may be connected, for example by an air tube such as the air tube
110 described above, or in some other way. The regions 312 on the
second side of the diaphragms 200 may be in fluid communication
(for example, comprising part of the same negative pressure
chamber, for example being connected to the same vacuum source(s),
or could be separate from one another.
[0026] In this way, `sectorisation` of the suction provided under a
platform 102 may be provided. For example, the valves may be
controlled as columns, which may run the whole or part of the
length of the platform 102. As media can vary in width, this allows
the width over which suction is provided to be tailored to a
particular media being conveyed. In other examples, the platform
may be divided into zones, with the media being passed from one
zone to the next. Suction may be provided (i.e. valves controlled
such that the suction holes are opened) to coincide with the
presence of media in a zone.
[0027] The complexity of control of individual valves or a large
number of groups of valves may be balanced with the versatility of
the apparatus for a particular intended use. For example, smaller
groups of valves 106 controlled by a single actuator 108 (or
providing more valves which may be controlled individually) allow a
region of the platform 102 which provides suction to closely match
the size of the particular media being processed. This in turn
allows for energy efficiency and allows, for example, lower power
vacuum sources to be used to provide a threshold suction. However,
the control system of such a versatile arrangement may be more
complex that an arrangement in which fewer, larger groups of valves
106 are controlled by a single valve actuator 108.
[0028] The maximum number or configuration of valves 106 controlled
in a group depends on the airflow losses in the air tube 110, and
the ratio between the tube diameter and the bleed hole size. In
some examples, around two to ten valves 106 may be controlled in a
group, although a group could comprise more than ten valves
106.
[0029] FIG. 5 is an example of a media handling apparatus 500
comprising a media support platform 502, a valve actuator 504, a
negative pressure source 506 and processing circuitry 508.
[0030] The media support platform 502 comprises a plurality of
suction holes 510a-g (generally referred to with reference numeral
510). In association with a first suction hole 510a of said suction
holes 510, there is a first valve 512a to selectively close the
associated suction hole 510a. In this example, the first valve 512a
comprises a diaphragm having a position which is responsive to a
pressure differential, which may for example comprise a diaphragm
200 as described in relation to FIGS. 2 and 3 above.
[0031] The valve actuator 504 in this example comprises an air tube
comprising a selectively sealable inlet (for example as shown in
relation to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) and may selectively actuate the first
valve 512a.
[0032] The negative pressure source 506 is arranged, in use of the
apparatus 500, to cause suction of air through a suction hole 510
when that suction hole 510 is open. The negative pressure source
506 in this example comprises an axial fan, but other vacuum
sources such as vacuum pumps, centrifugal blowers, other types of
fans or the like may be used.
[0033] The processing circuitry 508 is arranged to determine, based
on an attribute of a media being handled by the media handling
apparatus 500 (for example, conveyed, printed or the like), if the
first suction hole 510a should be open or closed and to control the
valve actuator 504 according to the determination. For example, the
attribute may comprise at least one dimension, such as a length or
width, another physical characteristic such as weight, thickness,
porosity (permeability) or stiffness, or the position of the media
within the apparatus 500. In some examples, such attributes may be
provided for example by a user of the media handling apparatus 500.
Combinations of attributes may be considered. In some examples, the
media handling apparatus 500 may comprise detectors to detect at
least one attribute of the media. For example, edge detectors may
be provided to detect the edge positioning, media detectors may
detect the presence of media, thickness detectors may detect a
substrate thickness and the like.
[0034] In this example, the drive mechanism of the valve actuator
504 is provided remotely from the platform 502. This may be, for
example, in a region of the apparatus 500 which is away from vacuum
and/or high temperature conditions, free from vapours and
condensation and/or more readily accessible for maintenance
purposes.
[0035] FIG. 6 is another example of a media handling apparatus, in
this example a print apparatus 600 comprising a media support
platform 502 and processing circuitry 508. A media conveying belt
602 is provided to carry media across the media support platform
502. This may for example be a fabric, plastic mesh or otherwise
permeable endless belt (in some examples, driven with at least one
roller (not shown). However, in other examples, the platform 502
may comprise, for example, a loop of pallets.
[0036] In this example, the print apparatus comprises a first 504a
and second 504b valve actuator as well as a first 506a, second 506b
and third 506c negative pressure source. Each negative pressure
source 506a-c is associated with a respective negative pressure
chamber 604a-c. The negative pressure chambers 604a-c are at least
substantially separate from one another, and each is associated
with a different subset of suction holes 510. In this way, each
negative pressure source 506a-c may draw air through a different
subset of the suction holes 510 (wherein a subset comprises at
least one suction hole 510).
[0037] In this example, the negative pressure sources 506a-c are
shown to be within the belt 602, although this may not be the case,
and at least one duct may be provided between each source 506 and a
negative pressure chamber 604.
[0038] The presence of such a belt 602 assists in smoothly
conveying the media, but may interfere with a seal being formed
simply by the presence of media on the belt, as air can leak
through the belt 602 itself into a pilot hole or the like, even
when the media overlies such a hole.
[0039] Providing a plurality of negative pressure sources 506a-c
means that a source 506a-c may be selected according to the region
with which it is associated. For example, it may be that different
regions are associated with different stages of media handling, for
example operating at different temperatures and/or preforming
different functions, which may in turn mean that different suction
levels are intended. In such examples, providing a plurality of
sources 506a-c may allow a source 506 to be selected which is
compatible with its intended operation. It may also allow smaller
or less powerful negative pressure sources 506 to be employed,
which may be less expensive and more readily available than a
single, more powerful negative pressure source 506. Providing a
plurality of negative pressure chambers 604a-c may also facilitate
the provision of different negative pressure conditions in
different regions. In some examples, the negative pressure chambers
604a-c may include the regions 312 on the second side of the
diaphragms 200 described in relation to FIGS. 3A and 3B above.
[0040] In the example of FIG. 6, a first 512a and second 512b valve
are selectively to close a first 510a and second 510b suction hole
under control of the first valve actuator 504a. A third 512c,
fourth 512d and fifth 512e valve are selectively to close a third
510c, fourth 510d and fifth 510e suction hole under control of the
second valve actuator 504b. A sixth suction hole 510f is closed by
a valve 512f directly actuated by presence of media. For example,
the media may pass over the top of a pilot hole which acts in the
same way as sealing the end of the air tube 110. A seventh suction
hole 510g is not associated with a valve and is always open. This
may allow for pressure release and/or may for example be a suction
hole 510 in the centre of the platform which is more likely to
carry media, if when the media is narrow. More generally, a print
apparatus or a media conveyor or a region thereof may comprise a
combination of valves having different (or in some examples, no)
actuation mechanisms.
[0041] As noted above, in this example, each of the negative
pressure sources 506a-c is associated with a different negative
pressure chamber 604a-c which in turn is connected to cause suction
of air through a subset of the suction holes 510. At least one, and
in some examples, each, negative pressure chamber 604 may comprise
a sensor to monitor the pressure level. Such a sensor may provide
feedback to a negative pressure source 506.
[0042] In this example, a first negative pressure chamber 604a is
associated with a region of the media support platform 502 which is
to support a print media during a first print operation (for
example, drying and curing), the second negative pressure chamber
604b is associated with a region of the media support platform 502
which is to support a print media during a second, different print
operation (for example, printing inks, toners and the like onto
media by means of a printhead mounted on a moveable carriage, or an
array of static print heads or the like, which may eject drops of
ink through orifices or nozzles and towards a print media so as to
print onto the media), and the third negative pressure chamber 604c
is associated with a region of the media support platform 502 which
is to support a print media during a second, different print
operation (for example, loading the print media into the print
apparatus 600).
[0043] In some examples, different regions of the media support
platform 502 comprise different compositions of suction holes. For
example, it may be that, in a printing region, it is to be assured
that more suction is applied than in a loading region as in such a
section print apparatus components such as print heads may pass
close to the media and therefore holding the print media securely
may reduce smearing or misapplication of the print agent. This
could be achieved by provided more actuatable valves 512 in the
printing region than in the loading region, such that suction is
not wasted due to un-sealed suction holes 510. In a drying or
curing region, hot air may be provided and in order to prevent
wasting energy, it may be of relatively higher concern to seal off
otherwise uncovered suction holes 510 in such a region than in
other regions. Therefore, it may the case that valves are
controllable to a higher resolution in such a region (i.e. smaller
groups of valves 512 are controlled by a single actuator). In some
examples, the configuration may be a configuration of groups of
valves controlled by a single valve actuator 504. For example, in
one region, the resolution of the groups may be different than in
another, or the groups may comprises different shapes or forms. In
some examples, varying the composition of suction holes may
comprises varying the provision of holes which are always open
and/or holes which are associated with valves which are controlled
in some other way than by sealing an air tube.
[0044] FIG. 7 is a flow chart of an example of a method comprising,
in block 702, receiving, on a media support platform of a media
handling apparatus, a media sheet. Block 704 comprises generating a
negative pressure. In block 706, an actuation signal is generated
to selectively seal an inlet to an air tube and thereby cause a
pressure operated valve to communicate the negative pressure to the
media sheet as an applied suction. In some examples, sealing the
air tube causes a plurality of pressure operated valves to
communicate the negative pressure to the media sheet as a suction
via a plurality of respective suction holes. Block 708 comprises
conveying the media sheet on the media support platform under the
applied suction. The method may be a method of operating the media
handling apparatus 500 or the print apparatus 600
[0045] Examples in the present disclosure can be provided as
methods, systems or machine readable instructions, such as any
combination of software, hardware, firmware or the like, which may
for example be executed by the processing circuitry 508. Such
machine readable instructions may be included on a computer
readable storage medium (including but is not limited to disc
storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) having computer readable
program codes therein or thereon. The machine readable instructions
may, for example, be executed by a general purpose computer, a
special purpose computer, an embedded processor or processors of
other programmable data processing devices to realize the functions
of the processing circuitry 508 described in the description and
diagrams. In particular, a processor or processing apparatus may
execute the machine readable instructions. Thus functional modules
of the apparatus and devices may be implemented by a processor
executing machine readable instructions stored in a memory, or a
processor operating in accordance with instructions embedded in
logic circuitry. The term `processor` is to be interpreted broadly
to include a CPU, processing unit, ASIC, logic unit, or
programmable gate array etc. The methods and functional modules may
all be performed by a single processor or divided amongst several
processors.
[0046] Further, the teachings herein may be implemented in the form
of a computer software product, the computer software product being
stored in a storage medium and comprising a plurality of
instructions for making a computer device implement the methods
recited in the examples of the present disclosure.
[0047] The present disclosure is described with reference to a flow
chart. Although the flow diagram described above shows a specific
order of execution, the order of execution may differ from that
which is depicted. It shall be understood that each block in the
flow chart, as well as combinations thereof can be realized by
machine readable instructions. In some examples, at least some
blocks may be carried out by the processing circuitry 508.
[0048] Features described in relation to one example may be
combined with features described in relation to any other
example.
[0049] While the method, apparatus and related aspects have been
described with reference to certain examples, various
modifications, changes, omissions, and substitutions can be made
without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. It is
intended, therefore, that the method, apparatus and related aspects
be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their
equivalents. It should be noted that the above-mentioned examples
illustrate rather than limit what is described herein, and that
those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative
implementations without departing from the scope of the appended
claims.
[0050] The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of
elements other than those listed in a claim, "a" or "an" does not
exclude a plurality, and a single processor or other unit may
fulfil the functions of several units recited in the claims.
[0051] The features of any dependent claim may be combined with the
features of any of the independent claims or other dependent
claims.
* * * * *